Oral history interview with Maria Benítez conducted by Monserrath Hernández and Maribel Estrada Calderón on June 21, 2019 for the Latinx Voices of Southern Nevada Oral History Project. Maria Benítez is the image of a hardworking and determined Salvadoran woman. After facing adversity amidst the Salvadorian Civil War she talks about her journey as a nurse in El Salvador and migrating to the United States. Here in Las Vegas, she has worked as a cook on the Strip, been an active member of her church, and supported the education of her children selling pupusas. Subjects discussed include: El Salvador, Salvadorian Civil War, Migration, US Citizenship Documentation, and Judaism.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Debra McCracken conducted by Claytee D. White on April 13, 2017 for the Boyer Early Las Vegas Oral History Project. In this interview, McCracken discusses her early interests in library science and children's literature. She recalls being hired at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), working in the James R. Dickinson Library, and the transition into Lied Library. She talks about the switch to electronic cataloging, and working at the Teachers Development Resources Library (TDRL) at UNLV. Lastly, McCracken discusses the future of UNLV Libraries.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Reva Giles conducted by Claytee D. White on July 17, 2006 for the UNLV @ 50 Oral History Project. Giles discusses moving to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1958, then recalls living on Decatur and the military housing at Nellis Air Force Base. She then discusses moving from Las Vegas to Okinawa, Japan for four years with her husband, and upon his retirement from the military, moving back to Las Vegas in 1964. She also discusses working in various offices at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), retiring and volunteering as an office aide to the UNLV athletic director.
Archival Collection
Oral history interviews with Ray Trousdale conducted by Chuck Williams on December 14, 2012 and July 31, 2013 for the Friends of Red Rock Canyon in Nevada Oral History Project. Trousdale begins the interview talking about his family and early life. He moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1940 and describes Las Vegas during the 1940s. Then, Trousdale speaks about meeting Buster Wilson and what he learned from him. He describes his time at Spring Mountain, Nevada and the history of the area. Lastly, he speaks about the Carole Lombard plane crash site.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Joe Burton conducted by Bob Barrera on March 11, 1980 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Burton discusses his frozen food manufacturing business’ procedures and practices, and how the equipment he used changed over the years. Burton also talks about how he felt about the Mafia running the casinos on the Las Vegas Strip. He also weighs in on the MX missiles being located in Las Vegas.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Frank Mathews conducted by Pat Kohlman on December 07, 1975 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In the interview, Mathews discusses his life as a teacher at J. D. Smith Middle School in Las Vegas, Nevada from 1953 to 1975. He discusses traveling through the city during its early stages of growth, employment, and home construction in various Las Vegas Valley locations including Lorenzi Park (currently known as Twin Lakes), Hyde Park, and North Las Vegas, Nevada.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Irene Vanderhoof conducted by Robert Coleman on March 14, 1978 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. Vanderhoof begins by describing her family history and environmental changes in Southern Nevada. She talks about living on a Hopi Native American reservation in Arizona and the customs of the Hopi tribe. Vanderhoof goes on to discuss living in Las Vegas, Nevada, her faith as a Baha'i, and observing the construction of Hoover Dam (Boulder Dam). She concludes by listing her issues with the local school system and the effects of politics on it.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Gerald Price conducted by Mike Labrum on October 23, 1972 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Price discusses his personal history and experiences living in Las Vegas, Nevada. He describes his career as a dealer in casinos, prominent celebrities visiting Las Vegas, and his recreational activities. Price also talks about nuclear weapons tests, how Las Vegas has changed, and gambling.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Jessie Emmett conducted by Irene Rostine on October 16, 1996 for the Women's Research Institute of Nevada (WRIN) Las Vegas Women Oral History Project. Emmett discusses moving from Southern California to Nevada for her husband's job at the Nevada Test Site in 1954. Emmett goes on to discuss working at the New Frontier Hotel briefly, and her eventual decision to go into real estate. Emmett then talks about creating a real estate agent training program, and about the work environment for women real estate agents. Lastly, Emmett describes her experience running her own real estate office, and the personal satisfaction the job provided.
Archival Collection
Oral history interview with Irving Kirshbaum conducted by Cheryl Rogers on February 23, 1979 for the Ralph Roske Oral History Project on Early Las Vegas. In this interview, Kirshbaum discusses the Riviera Hotel where he began working in 1955. He also talks about the landscape of the Las Vegas Strip in the 1950s, and the state of gambling, comps, customer service, and dealer training. Kirshabum discusses the treatment of minorities at the Riviera and in Las Vegas, Nevada generally.
Archival Collection